both the arms and legs of a person or all the legs of a quadruped (esp in the phrase on all fours)
2. another name for seven-up
all fours in American English
noun
1.
all four limbs or extremities; the four legs or feet of an animal or both arms and both legs or both hands and both feet of a person
The cat rolled off the ledge but landed on all fours
2. (used with a sing. v.) Also called: high-low-jack, old sledge, pitch, seven-up Cards
a game for two or three players or two partnerships in which a 52-card pack is used, the object being to win special scoring values for the highest trump, the lowest trump, the jack, the ace, the ten, and the face cards
3. See on all fours
Word origin
[1555–65]
Examples of 'all fours' in a sentence
all fours
Cameron released the man, who fell onto all fours, vainly trying to suck air in.